Offshore staff

ABERDEEN -- Weatherford UK has won an award at the IADC North Sea Chapter Annual Safety Awards for its Single Joint Elevator.

Weatherford in partnership with BP conducted a review of recent incidents and a design review of the existing single joint elevators in use. The design review aimed to design out the recurring safety problems associated with SP-type single joint elevators. This resulted in a new design of a single joint elevator that is lighter, safer, and less prone to misuse or failure, the company says.

During the design review period there were 17 rig operators working 160 rigs in the UK North Sea, Norway, and Europe (semisubs, jackups, platforms, and land rigs). There are also at least nine rental service companies supplying these tools to the industry. It is estimated that there are in excess of 500 sets of SP single joint elevators in the supply chain.

06/30/2009